Parents of cart-riding children, brace yourself for a grocery-store gross-out.
One study at the University of Arizona found that not only meat drippings but also body fluids–blood, mucus, saliva–sometimes go along for the ride on grocery carts.
One university microbiologist said the shopping carts she tested were dirtier than public bathrooms. (“The fact is, bathrooms are frequently cleaned and disinfected, shopping carts are not,” said the report.)
Some experts suggest parents wipe off the surface before putting their child in grocery carts.
But one super-sanitary mom has taken it a step further, by designing a protective barrier. The Clean Shopper is a one-piece machine-washable cloth covering designed to fit most shopping carts.
The Clean Shopper is $29.95 at www.cleanshopper.com. Also available on that site is the Clean Diner ($22.95), a one-piece cloth in a case that can be kept in the car for restaurant highchairs.
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ON THE RADIO
What is it with parents who freak out over grocery cart germs but follow the “five-second rule”? Join Kathy & Judy as they discuss the topic between 9 a.m. and noon Monday. Tune in WGN-AM 720.